Tire-protector.



E. G. HOBLSCHE.

TIRE PROTECTOR.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 1 4.19

Patented June 27, 1911.

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EDMUND C. HOELSCHE, 013" SOUTH CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

TIRE-PROTECTOR.

Specification of Letters lPatent.

Patented June 2'7, 1911.

Application filed May 14, 1910. Serial No. 581,377.

To all 4117mm it may concern;

Be it known that I, EDMUNDQHOELSCHE, a citizen of the l nited States, residing at Sou h Chicago, in the county of Cook and State of lllinois, have invented new and useful lmprovemeutsin Tire-Protectors, of which the followingis a specification.

To increase the life of pneumatic tires and to render the same practically invulnerable is a dcsideratum and it is the purpose of the present invention to devise novel protective means of the type forming an investment for the outer or tread portion ot the tire and comprising a series of plates or scales linked in such a manner as to provide a ficxibh armor in which the scale elements overlap,. thereby con'ipletely inclosing the part of the tire which is cxposed to wear and susceptible to injury by sharp objects penetrating the same.

The present invention contemplates a protective armor con'iprising links or scales of peculiar form and connected in a novel manner so as to provide an effective means for prolonging tneperiod of serviceof pneumatic tires and overcoming the annoyance, inconvenience and expense incident to punctures, blowouts and the like causing the deflation of pneuinatic'tires.

The present invention contemplates a pro ,tcctor of such form as to insure a complete investment of the outer portion of the tire, said protector comprising plates or scales arranged in transverse lines and linked to gcther, the scales of one line being arranged opposite the spaces forpied between the scales of adjacent lines and overlapping the same and linked thereto so as to provide a flexible armor, which while affording effective protection does not interfere with the yielding of the pneumatic tire to compcnsate for shock and vibration.

The invention further contemplates a novel form of scales or plates and the reinforcing; of the longitudinal edges of the protector so as to withstand the circumferential strain, the plates or scales decreas ing in length from a medial line toward the outer edges of the protector to give to the latter the contour'or shape of the tread portion of the tire and insuring an equalization of the strain upon all the elements or links comprising the armor.

For a full umlerstanding ot' the invention reference is had to the drawings hereto attached forming a partof the application, and in which, I

l igure l is a side view of a wheel pro vided with a tire protector embodying the invention. Fig. 2 is a plan view of a portion'or" the protector as seen from the outer or tread side. Fig. 3 is aview of a portion of the protector as seen from the inner side. Fig. i is a detail section on the line 2-2 of Big. Fig. 5 is a plan view of one or" the scales or plates, such as designed for the end of a line and having the outer ear longer than the inner ear. Fig. (i is a transverse section on the line a:c of Fig. 5. Fig. 7 is a longitudinal section on the line y- 1 of Fig. 5.

(oi-respending and like parts are referred to in the following description, and indicated in all the views of the drawing, by the same reference characters.

The protector or armor comprises side bindcrs 1, which may consist ofcables,stout Wires or chains of a circumference to extend along opposite sides of the tire for which the protector is designed. T he space between the side binders l is completely closed by a plurality of scales or plates 2, which are linked to one another and to the binders 1. Thescales or plates 2 are arranged so as to form a complete investment: for the outer surface of the tire to be protected. The form of the scales or plates is that of an oval and the scales are arranged in parallel transverse straight lines with the scales of one line opposite the spaces between the scales of adjacent lines and with the pointed ends of one line undcrlupping the butt or broad ends of the adjacent line of scales. The scales or plates are preferably struck from sheet metal, such as steel, of proper gage and each scale or plate is formed with a longitudinal slot 3 near the pointed end and with ears 4'. at oppositesidcsinlincwiththe minor axis. ln assembling the scales or plates they are arranged in a transverse line with the edges touching or in close proximity to one another. The cars l are bent about at a right angle and pass through the slots 3 of the s ales or plates of the next line, said ears att'cr passing through the slots 3 being bent. against the. rear side of the scales, thereby holding the two lines of scales together. In this manner the protector is formed. The lines of scales have a staggered ar -an ement and the outermost scale of one. line has its" ear bent about the binder 1 upon one side and the outermost scale of the next line of scales hasv its ear bent 'iibout the binder upon lea-ther, canvas or the like so as:to protect the tire from injury by the projections equipped with the armor. construction the scales or plates are formed the opposite side of the protector. The scales or plates are provided in different sizes, the longest scales occupying a central position and the scales decreasing in length from the center of the protector toward the edges thereof, with the result that the protector is given a form corresponding approximately to the circumferential and transverse curvature of the tire for which the protector is designed. The scales .or plates curve slightly in their length and width, thereby enabling the protector to fit closely against the tire when the latter is In the preferable hollow upon theirinner sides and have an approximate concave-convex outline. The

relative size of the scales or plates is such as to insure a close overlapping when the protector is in position upon the tire. /Vhen the protector is in position upon a tire it'is preferable to interpose a strip 5 of rawhide,

formed by the bent ends of the ears 4.- and from the corners and endsv of the plates or scales themselves. a

From the foregoing description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawing, the advantages of the construction and of the method of operation will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art to which the invention appertains, and while I have described the principle of operation of the invention, together with the device which I now consider to be the embodiment thereof, I desire to have it understood that the device shown is merely illustrative, and that t ceeding series, each of the scales having a longitudinal slot at one end and cars at opposite sides, and the scales of one series being connected to one another and to the scales of the adjacent series by having the ears of adjacent scales of one series passing through the slots of the overlapping end portions of the scales of the adjacent series.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature in presence of two Witnesses.

EDMUND O. HOELSCHE.

VVit-n'esses:

WILLIAM GRAHAM, JOHN J. ROWAN. 

